TSR Nitro Teams Head To Phoenix For An Action Packed Weekend

As the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series heads to Firebird Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona, Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) is revved up and ready for action. The Arizona Nationals, the third event on the NHRA calendar, promises high-octane excitement as TSR brings its top-tier talent to the track.

Headlining TSR’s roster are two formidable drivers: rookie Tony Stewart in the Top Fuel category and the reigning Funny Car champion Matt Hagan. Both drivers are seasoned veterans in the motorsports world, each bringing a wealth of experience and a hunger for victory.

“For us, Pomona and Phoenix are both big races,” said Tony Stewart, driver of the TSR Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Top Fuel Dragster. “Having Leah (Pruett) and Matt (Hagan) as teammates, that has really helped me understand the nuances of a new race track like Phoenix because it’s not new to them. They’ve raced a lot of times there, and just having their knowledge will expedite the learning process for me, so I think it’ll be a smooth transition getting ready to go to the track that’s new for me.”

Reflecting on the importance of TSR’s partnership with the Mopar CAP program, Stewart emphasized the program’s role in nurturing young talent in the automotive industry. “The Mopar CAP program is very crucial to the automotive industry,” Stewart noted. “There’s such a shortage of skilled, talented people in the workforce and the automotive industry that programs like Mopar CAP provide an opportunity for kids that want to be in this industry. It helps manufacturers and dealers have access to these students while they’re in school, so I feel like it’s a big advantage.”

Meanwhile, Matt Hagan, a seasoned Funny Car driver, is gearing up for a showdown against John Force in the Finals of the NHRA Winternationals, which was postponed till Phoenix due to weather. “The Phoenix weekend is going to be very busy during qualifying,” Hagan remarked. “We were hoping they would add an extra qualifying session in there since all three qualifiers have the potential to be a race. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out. At the end of the day, we really just want to put on a good show for the fans.”

Additionally, Hagan is set to compete in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, a thrilling event that pits top drivers against each other in a series of high-speed showdowns. “Last year, the championship came down to just a few points, so all the bonus points we can get in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge make a big difference,” Hagan explained. “We don’t want to have to pedal the car and blow anything up, but if we can get the points clean, we definitely want to get them.”

As fans eagerly anticipate the action-packed weekend, they can catch all the excitement on FS1. From qualifying rounds to nail-biting eliminations, the NHRA Arizona Nationals promise thrills, spills, and adrenaline-fueled moments.

TV Schedule:

• Friday, April 5: Qualifying show, recapping all of Friday’s action (6:30 p.m. MST/9:30 p.m. EDT)
• Sunday, April 7: Qualifying show, recapping all of Saturday’s action (7:30 a.m. MST/10:30 a.m. EDT)
• Sunday, April 7: Finals show (3:30 p.m. MST/6:30 p.m. EDT)